·         Table of Contents (Volume #3, Issue #4)

·         Cover Page (Volume #3, Issue #4)

·         Editorial (Volume #3, Issue #4)

Paper #1

Job Transfer Intention of Teachers in the Three Southern Provinces of Thailand

Patipat Kittichokwattana, Azhar Harun and Zawiyah Mohd Zain

Abstract: This study aims to examine the effect of control, community, and values fit on job transfer intention and the indirect effect through regulatory failure and job burnout. A total of 371 teachers from public primary schools in the three southern provinces of Thailand were randomly selected. The questionnaire was administered to examine how they agreed or disagreed with the statements. The partial least square structural equation model and the disjoin two-stage approach were used to analyse the data. The results reveal that community, values, regulatory failure, and job burnout collectively predict job transfer intention with a moderate level of predictive accuracy. The mediation analysis asserted the complex mechanism of regulatory failure and job burnout in the relationship between community and values fit toward job transfer intention. This study asserts the association between person-environment fit and regulatory failure by the referent point definition. It also illustrates how regulatory failure affects job burnout and the subsequent behaviour intention. The study presents an interesting discussion based on findings and avenues for future research to extend the current work.

Keywords: Job Burnout; Job Transfer Intention; Person-Environment Fit; Regulatory Failure; Thailand.

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Paper #2

Under qualification and Affective Commitment: The role of Transformational Leadership

Hussain Ahmed Mughal and Rahim Bin Mahmood

Abstract: The current study aimed to assess the association between perceived under qualification (PU) with Job attitudes (affective commitment) AC and transformational leadership (TL). Alongside direct relationship between PU and AC, the study also tested the moderating role of transformational leadership to respond to the scholarly calls for empirical attention on the interaction effect of TL on the direct association between PU and AC. Equally, the study has also addressed scholarly calls regarding person-job (misfit) from previous studies, indicating that one type of misfit ‘perceived over qualification’ as mainly neglected by scholars in the area. Survey methodology was used to obtain data from the staff members of four public sector universities in the UK. The findings revealed that perceived under qualification is negatively related to Job attitudes (Affective commitment) and positively related through transformational leadership (moderating factor). However, when transformational leadership is incorporated as a moderating variable, the negative attitudinal implication on Job attitudes is mitigated. The results have supported the hypothesized direct and moderated relationship. The current study extends the body of knowledge in testing the other type of Person-Job misfit known as perceived under qualification and corrects the biased understanding of Person-Job misfit of perceived over qualification, which the previous scholars have exclusively examined.

Keywords: Transformational Leadership; Affective Commitment; Perceived Under qualification; Person-Job Misfit.

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Paper #3

Employee empowerment and Work engagement: The Contingent Role of Trust in Management

Umair Ahmed

Abstract: This study addressed the effect of employee empowerment dimensions (meaning, competence, self-determination, and impact) on work engagement of the telecommunication sector employees in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Additionally, this research was aimed to assess the moderation of trust in management on the relationship of employee empowerment dimensions with work engagement. Structural equation modelling results from the sample of 349 final respondents using Smart PLS3 outlined a significant positive effect of meaning, competence, self-determination, and trust in management on work engagement. In comparison, the dimension of impact failed to pose any significant impact on work engagement. Besides, the current study also assessed the moderation of trust in management on the relationship between employee empowerment dimensions and work engagement. Trust in management strengthened the relationship of self-determination, impact, and work engagement, while trust in management did not strengthen the relationship between meaning, competence, and work engagement. The current study forwards notable implications for theory and practice, followed by the scope for future research.

Keywords: Bahrain; Employee Empowerment; Trust in Management; Work Engagement.

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Paper #4

Managing Innovation in Technical Education: Revisiting the Developmental Strategies of Politeknik Brunei

Bashir Ahmed Bhuiyan, Mohammad Shahansha Molla and Masud Alam

Abstract: Present study aims at exploring the strategies for managing innovation in technical education by using blended learning philosophy and practices with special reference to Politeknik Brunei. Based on literature review and desk research, the study found out salient characteristics, explored constraining factors, elicited strategies of Politeknik Brunei, and suggested some options and a framework for innovations management and development of effective blended teaching and learning. The limiting factors identified are: the unwillingness of the top-level management, lack of structural support, dearth of readiness of the stakeholders, the gap between teachers’ expectations and changed students’ characteristics, and blended teaching myopia on the way of effective application of blended learning strategies. Notable suggestions for strategic development are developing wide-angle vision and self-renewal processes, analyzing the environment for needs determination. Clarity of purpose and tasks, technological adaptability, data-driven decision making, prompt feedback, flipped classroom, and development of learning clusters are other dimensions that may go a long way toward innovating teaching-learning and the overall development of an academic institution. Finally, the study suggested important guidelines for applying the strategies and proposed framework for quality blended learning and managing innovations in technical education.

Keywords: Blended and Sequential Learning; Education Cluster; Flipped Class room; Fluid Infrastructures; Innovations; Technical Education; Technological Myopia.

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Paper #5

Examining the impact of Supervisor’s support, Job clarity and Work-life balance on Meaningful work

Abdussalaam Iyanda Ismail and Syed Mir Muhammad Shah

Abstract: It has become significantly important for organizations to ensure meaningful work because employees nowadays prefer this factor more than any other factor. Hence to fully utilize the employees’ potential, making work meaningful for employees has become a critical characteristic of the job. The purpose of the current study is to examine the factors affecting the level of meaningfulness at the workplace. Based on Social Exchange Theory researcher investigated the impact of supervisor’s support, job clarity, and work-life balance on meaningful work. Data was collected through close-ended questionnaires distributed among 300 employees from corporate sector organizations. the study used partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the data. The study results depict that supervisor’s support, job clarity, and work-life balance have a significant and direct relationship with meaningful work. Although a wide array of research is pertinent to meaningful work, little has been done to identify work meaningfulness factors. Hence, this study provides significant insights towards job characteristics such as supervisor’s support, job clarity, and work-life balance to evaluate how these factors influence meaningful work and recommend managers to devise appropriate HRM practices..

Keywords: Job Clarity; Meaningful Work; Social Exchange Theory; Supervisor’s Support; Work-Life Balance.

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